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Straight Talk
Straight up loose words, not malicious at all
Typos in the margins, little slips when folks stall
Rushin’ and bad words muddle the forward play
Until the meaning of the message fades away
If you wanna move with me, you gotta talk straight
We all make mistakes, but spin, nah I’m not takin’ the bait
If you straight out lie, I’ll hit hard till I get the win
If you straight out lie, I’ll hit hard till I get the win
Straight line spins, to make the fog roll in
Tricky words chosen so nobody gets pinned
Grey zones built so duckin’ and weavin’ happens all day
Half-truths in the boardroom, PR spin in the hallway
If you wanna move with me, you gotta talk straight
We all make mistakes, but spin, nah I’m not takin’ the bait
If you straight out lie, I’ll hit hard till I get the win
If you straight out lie, I’ll hit hard till I get the win
Straight out lies, no typo in sight
A sleazy move to take away your might
Lines screaming false the second they’re made
Trust breaks and the whole thing fades
If you wanna move with me, you gotta talk straight
We all make mistakes, but spin, nah I’m not takin’ the bait
If you straight out lie, I’ll hit hard till I get the win
Loose words I forgive
Spin I’ll spot and easy outlive
Lies cut the wire clean
If you wanna move with me, you gotta talk straight
We all make mistakes, but spin, nah I’m not takin’ the bait
If you straight out lie, I’ll hit hard till I get the win
Straight talk keeps the road clear
Straight talk keeps the trust near
Straight talk is the only way
Say it true and we’ll be okay
STORY BOARD
SONG OVERVIEW
Written and produced by Tasmanian Songwriter Jason Bresnehan, Straight Talk is a musical arrangement in the country genre with a male vocal. The song establishes a clear rule of engagement for anyone who wants to move forward with another person: talk straight. Honest mistakes can be forgiven, deliberate spin will be challenged and outright lies will bring cooperation to an end.
The hero lyric is “If you wanna move with me, you gotta talk straight.” The word “move” gives the chorus its purpose. It represents collaboration, partnership and forward momentum between people who are prepared to deal honestly with one another. Straight talk keeps people aligned and enables them to work through problems without confusion, manoeuvring or mistrust.
FROM LOOSE WORDS TO OUTRIGHT LIES
Straight Talk builds through three escalating levels of distorted communication. The first verse begins with loose words arising from human error. Typos, rushed language and poorly expressed thoughts can blur a message without malicious intent. These mistakes are forgivable because the problem lies in execution rather than character.
The second verse moves into deliberate ambiguity. “Straight line spins” describes language designed to sound direct while creating room for ducking, weaving and avoiding accountability. Carefully selected words produce fog rather than clarity. Grey zones are constructed so that commitments can later be shifted, qualified or denied. Half-truths in boardrooms and public-relations spin in hallways turn communication into a means of protecting positions rather than moving matters forward.
The third verse reaches straight-out lies. There is no clerical error, careless wording or misunderstanding left to resolve. The false statement is deliberate, and trust breaks at the moment it is made. The three verses therefore move from an innocent mistake, through calculated spin, to a direct moral breach.
MOVE WITH ME
The phrase “move with me” functions as an invitation and a condition. The narrator is willing to listen, collaborate and move forward, but that movement depends upon straight communication. The arrangement works both ways: play straight and the narrator will play straight; create spin and the narrator will recognise it; tell an outright lie and the response will be direct and forceful.
This makes the chorus a compact statement of operating principles. Mistakes receive understanding because everybody makes them. Spin receives resistance because it creates manufactured confusion. Lies receive the hardest response because they attack the trust required for any partnership to continue. Straight talk becomes the foundation for shared movement rather than merely a preference for blunt language.
THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
The bridge reduces the entire song to three consequences: loose words are forgiven, spin is identified and survived, and lies cut the wire clean. Each response matches the seriousness of the conduct. The narrator remains reasonable about ordinary human error while drawing a firm line between mistakes, manipulation and dishonesty.
The outro returns to the constructive purpose of the song. Straight talk clears the road, keeps trust close and provides a practical way forward. The central message is firm but cooperative: say what is true, deal honestly with the people beside you and progress remains possible.
THE ARTWORK
Artwork description to be completed when the final artwork for Straight Talk is supplied.
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO JASON BRESNEHAN SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER
Straight Talk reflects Jason Bresnehan’s direct approach to business, consulting, community service, creative collaboration and everyday relationships. Jason accepts that people make mistakes, use the wrong words, send messages too quickly and sometimes fail to express themselves accurately. These failures can be corrected when people acknowledge them and clarify what they intended to say.
Jason draws a sharper distinction when loose language becomes an intentional device for avoiding accountability. Deliberately vague wording creates grey zones in which people can change positions, deny commitments or rewrite what occurred. Straight Talk captures Jason’s instinct to identify this movement early and bring the conversation back to facts, clarity and responsibility.
The song’s strongest statement is also its most collaborative: “If you wanna move with me, you gotta talk straight.” It expresses Jason’s willingness to listen, work with others and keep matters moving when the relationship is grounded in honesty. Mistakes can be repaired and disagreements can be resolved, but genuine partnership requires each person to speak plainly and stand behind what they say.
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I am currently at the Omni Interlocken in Broomfield, CO, attending the 2026 Durango Songwriters Expo. Come and say hello.
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